Weigela plant named ‘VUKOZLYRA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Weigela  plant named ‘VUKOZLYRA’ is disclosed, characterized by rich flowering and re-blooming of pink flowers. Plants are distinctively dwarf in habit. The new variety is a  Weigela , normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Weigela hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘VUKOZLYRA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Weigela cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Vojtech Benetka, in Pruhonice, Czech Republic. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Weigela varieties with white flowers. The cross resulting in this new variety was made in 1992.

The seed parent is an unpatented, unnamed proprietary Weigela referred to as ‘89-1-37’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, Weigela ‘Eva Supreme’. The new variety was identified as a potentially interesting selection in 1996, at a research nursery in Pruhonice, Czech Republic.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ by softwood cuttings was first performed in 1996, at a research nursery in Pruhonice, Czech Republic. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in five successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘VUKOZLYRA’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘VUKOZLYRA’ as a new and distinct Weigela cultivar:

-   1. Dwarf shrub. -   2. Reblooming characteristics. -   3. Pink flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ differ in the following:

-   1. New cultivar has pink flowers, whereas the parent has crimson     flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ differ in the following:

-   1. New cultivar has compact dwarf growth, whereas the parent has     vigorous growth.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZLYRA’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Weigela ‘Bokrasopin’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,572). These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘VUKOZLYRA’ differs in the following:

-   1. New cultivar is a dwarf, whereas this comparator variety forms a     large plant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a side view perspective of a typical plant of ‘VUKOZLYRA’ grown in a 1 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates the same plant with an overhead perspective. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2 years.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘VUKOZLYRA’ plants grown in a polyhouse in Grand Haven, Mich. Measurements were taken during late Spring. The plants were 2 years old. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 5° C. to 27° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela hybrida ‘VUKOZLYRA’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 15 days. -   Root description: Density is dense and freely branching. Thin root     thickness. White in color, not effectively measured with a color     chart. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 60 days.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Shrub. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years old. -   Growth habit: Strong, compact. -   Pot size of plant described: #1, #2, #3, #5 containers. -   Overall plant shape: Upright and Rounded. -   Height: 30 cm. -   Plant spread: 41 cm. -   Growth rate: Good. -   Plant vigor: Good. -   Branching characteristics: Opposite. -   Length of primary lateral branches: About 20 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 5 mm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: Over 50. -   Stem:     -   -   Stem charactaristics.—Rounded, two small ridges 180 degrees             apart on stem.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Straight, occurring at angles of 0 to 45°.         -   Color.—Green 143B.         -   Pubescence.—Yes, on 2 ridges 180 degrees apart on opposite             sides of stem. -   Internode length: Average is around 3.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic to oblanceolate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5-7 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5-3.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate-attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrulate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Leathery, midrib texture.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Leathery, veins have texture.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green 143A. Young foliage             under side: Green 143C. Mature foliage upper side: Green             143A. Mature foliage under side: Green 143C.         -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color upper side: Yellow-Green             N144D. Color under side: Yellow-Green 149D.         -   Petiole.—Length: 5.0 mm. Diameter: 3.5 mm. Petiole color             upper side: Yellow-Green N144D. Petiole color lower side             Yellow-Green N144D. Petiole Texture: Smooth or some             pubescence.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Late spring to summer. -   Inflorescence type and habit: Umbel. -   Inflorescence height: 4-5 cm. -   Inflorescence width: 6.0 cm. -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 3 to 6. -   Individual flowers:     -   -   Flower shape.—Salverform.         -   Flower aspect.—Upward and outward.         -   Flowering arrangement.—Single salverform flower.         -   Size.—Diameter: 3 cm. Depth: 2.5 cm.         -   Flower other characteristics.—Persistence: Self cleaning.             Fragrance: None. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Obovate to spatulate.         -   Length.—2.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—7 mm.         -   Color.—Red-Purple 71B. -   Petal:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled, fused at opening of throat.         -   Number of petals per flower.—5.         -   Petal shape.—Rounded-orbicular.         -   Petal base.—Fused at throat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Tip shape.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.2 cm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Soft, smooth, delicate. Lower: Soft, smooth,             delicate.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper side: Purple NN78. Under side:             Red-Purple 71B. Fully open: Upper side: Red-Purple N74C.             Under side: Red-Purple N74C with some Red-Purple 72B.         -   Flower tube.—Length: 2 cm. Diameter, base: 3 mm. Color:             Red-Purple N74C with some Red-Purple 72B fading to             Red-Purple 73D.         -   Throat.—Texture: Smooth. Color: Red-Purple N74C. -   Sepal:     -   -   Arrangement.—Fused at base.         -   Appearance.—Crown-like.         -   Number.—4-5.         -   Shape.—Narrowly triangular.         -   Tip.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—3.5 mm.         -   Width.—1.0 mm.         -   Texture, upper.—Smooth.         -   Texture, lower.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface at maturity: Yellow-Green 144C. Under             surface at maturity: Yellow-Green 144C. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—1.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Orientation.—Upright/outward.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Texture.—Smooth, slightly pubescent. -   Pedicel: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Filament length.—12 mm.         -   Filament color.—Red-Purple 73D. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—4 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow-White 158C.         -   Pollen color.—Yellow-White 158C.         -   Pollen amount.—Moderate. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1 per flower.         -   Length.—3 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 3.4 cm. Color: Greyed-Purple 186B. -   Stigma:     -   -   Color.—Greyed-Purple 186B.         -   Shape.—Globular, flat-bottomed, lobed.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to set fruit and seeds. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Weigela have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between −31° C. to 38° C. -   Environmental stressors: Good tolerance to wind and rain. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela hybrida plant named ‘VUKOZLYRA’ as herein illustrated and described. 